Good morning everyone. Well we've got a movie review, and a music review so far in Reel Reviews today. So how about something television related? I'm thinking maybe a look at one of the Valentines Day episodes of Clifford The Big Red Dog, since Valentines Day is next week. Parents taht means bring your kids around for this one! The shorts included in this episode actually focus more on Clifford's friends than Clifford himself. But they're still great little shorts. That's all in this edition of Reel Reviews. Happy Wednesday!
Clifford The Big Red Dog is one of the most well known figures in all of children's literature. Everyone's favorite colorful canine has a whole series of books centered on his adventures. And he also has an animated series on PBS bearing his name. Among the many adventures in the animated series is a handful of Valentines Day themed adventures. We'll get into two of those adventures this morning. The pair make up one full half hour episode of the show.
The first of the episodes that we'll focus on this morning actually is ceneterd on one of Clifford's canine friends, T-Bone. "Big Hearted T-Bone" sees T-Bone offering to take Cleo's (who is a poodle) niece Kiki, so that she can rest after having to babysit her. T-Bone takes Kiki to see a lighthouse on the island. While he and Kiki are there, T-Bone happens to see that Mimi has come to visit. As a result, T-Bone is torn about going to see Mimi and babysitting Kiki. it just so happens that T-Bone has a crush on Mimi. he keeps his promise to Cleo, though. Needless to say that it all ends happily. What this episode teaches its young audiences is the importance of keeping promises. It might not always have a positive result. But in the case of "Big Hearted T-Bone", T-Bone keeping his promise did have a positive outcome.
The companion episode to this one also focuses not so much on Clifford, but on another of his companions. "Cleo's Valentine Surprise" features Cleo the poodle. Cleo is collecting treats to make a huge valentine for Clifford and T-Bone. When Clifford and T-Bone discover it and start enjoying it, Cleo starts focusing on whether or not they got anything for her. In the end, she realizes it's even better to give than to receive. Again, another important moral for young viewers.
The two halves of this full episode of Clifford are great standalone shorts. But fans of Clifford The Big Red Dog know that no episode is complete without a Speckle story. In the Speckle story included here, audiences learn about Speckle and his friends creating all kinds of home made valentines and sharing them. It's a great way to get kids to be creative in making valentines for the big day. And it's one more great addition to what is one whole great episode of another of PBS' great kids' shows.
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Philip sayblack can be contacted at psayblack@wnct.com
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